Unbeaten cruiserweight Rudolf “Rudy” Kraj (14-0, 10 KOs) from the spotlight boxing team will get his long-awaited world championship fight for the WBC cruiserweight title on Friday night in Milan. In March, Kraj defeated Matt Godfrey in a hard-fought WBC eliminator to became mandatory challenger. However, after unified champion David Haye abandoned the division to move to heavyweight, the #1 rated Kraj will now face #2 rated Giacobbe Fragomeni (25-1, 10 KOs) for the vacant belt..
Although he’s relocated with his family to Hamburg, Kraj would be the first professional world champion from the Czech Republic if he is victorious on Friday. He is highly motivated to do so. “I obviously respect this strong Italian, who previously has lost only once against Haye,” says Kraj.
“We’ve focused our sparring on his fight style. He can summon up his experience, but I certainly bring my freshness, my strength and my very good training in the amateurs. I would be proud to be the first Czech to win a championship belt. Not only for my country, but also as a motivation for all talented young boxers in the Czech Republic. Clearly, I just want to win and get this belt!”
Kraj’s trainer Conny Mittermeier added, “Fragomeni is a hard nut and an experienced old fox. He’s only been beaten one time and that was by David Haye in the fight for the European championship two years ago. And even then he delivered a fairly good fight. Fragomeni will bring pressure from the beginning. And since we are in his Italian homeland, we must give everything. Naturally a KO would be best and Rudy has a hard punch which he will need. We only have a chance to win on points if we do it quite convincingly, otherwise it will be very difficult for us.”
After being fascinated by the “Rocky” films, the 30-year-old Kraj began his career as a boxer 13 years ago in the Czech Republic against the wishes of his parents. Me made a name for himself in the amateurs, winning 170 of his 200 fights. He won a silver medal at light heavyweight in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and in 2003 he took third place at the world championships in Bangkok.
Due to the opportunities on the professional boxing scene in Germany in comparison to his homeland, Kraj signed with promoter Dietmar Poszwa to fight in the Hamburg-based spotlight boxing stall in 2005. As a pro he has continued his previous success, winning each of his 14 fights, with ten coming by KO. In addition to his WBC eliminator win over the previously unbeaten Godfrey, Kraj claimed the WBC International title in only his ninth fight against Pavel Melkomian, who entered at 20-1.
Lukas Wilaschek to face Robert Stieglitz!
Germany vs. Germany – the duell for the WBC International belt, December 9th in Sölden, Austria
Unbeaten super middleweight prospect Lukas Wilaschek (22-0, 7 KOs) from the Universum team meets his toughest test on December 9th when he faces former world title challenger Robert Stieglitz (32-2, 20 KOs) at the Freizeit Arena in Sölden, Austria.
The winner will claim the WBC International belt.
“I want to take advantage of this great opportunity,” said Wilaschek. “I know Robert. He applies a lot of pressure. But I’m more of a technically sophisticated boxer, so it’s good for me.”
Stieglitz, however, is burning for another crack at a world title. “Finally I have a chance to get back into the world ratings,” stated Stieglitz. “Lukas Wilaschek is certainly an excellent boxer, but he can’t win the WBC International belt against me. This will be a hard fight, but I am motivated to the tips of my hair to win.”